South African Forward Jan-Hendrik Wessels Given Nine-Match Ban for Inappropriate Contact
Wessels will be unavailable for the Springboks' fall fixtures.
South Africa front-rower Jan-Hendrik Wessels has been suspended of nine games for touching opponent Josh Murphy's private parts during the Blue Bulls' URC win over Connacht.
The incident happened in the early stages of the close contest against Connacht on Friday, with opposing player Murphy receiving a temporary dismissal after reacting angrily by striking Wessels on the head.
Following the Connacht player reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the situation was reviewed by the TMO, who determined no definitive proof.
Wessels remained on the pitch until he was substituted in the later stages of the match.
While the URC announced that the Irish player's temporary sending-off was rescinded by a disciplinary panel, the Springbok was deemed to have breached the code of conduct, which states:
"A player should not engage in actions that is against the spirit of good sportsmanship. This includes grabbing, pulling or compressing the private areas."
Disciplinary officials determined that the incident met the red card threshold and warranted a 12-week suspension, the shortest suspension under international rugby rules for such an offence.
However, Wessels' ban was shortened by three weeks because of his good conduct prior to and at the proceedings and his clean disciplinary history.
Wessels and the Bulls are entitled to appeal, but as it stands, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against Japan, France, the Azzurri and the Irish team.
He will additionally be absent for the his club's URC games against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Bordeaux and Northampton.
Wessels has earned ten international appearances for South Africa and was included in their Rugby Championship-winning team over the summer.
The Connacht player, meanwhile, is eligible to face Munster in this weekend's inter-provincial derby after being cleared.
